Road base building apparatus



June 21, 1966 w. H. LEWIS 3,

ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. WILLIAM H. LEWIS BY FULWIDER, PATTON,

RIEBER, LEE & UTECHT ATTORNEYS ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed May21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZ INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. LEWIS BY FULWIDER,FATTON,

RIEBER, LEE & UTECHT ATTORNEYS June 21, 1966 w. H. LEWIS ROAD BASEBUILDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1963 INVENTOR.

H. LEWIS PATTON WILLIAM BY FULWIDER RIEBER, LEE a. UTECI iT AT TOR NEYSJune 21, 1966 w. H. LEWIS 3,256,787

ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 FIG.6a 225 234 1 0 new zaa 224 222 @242 FIGQ INVENTOR WILLIAM H. LEWIS BYFULWIDER, PATTON,

RIEBER, LEE & UTECH'I' ATTORNEYS June 21, 1966 w. H. LEWIS 3,256,787

ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

FIG. I I

a INVENTQR. V WILLIAM H. LEWIS BY FULWIDER. PATTON.

RIEBER, LEE & UTECHT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,256,787 ROAD BASEBUILDING APPARATUS William H. Lewis, 9530 E. Rush St., Arcadia, Calif.Filed May 21, 1963, Ser. No. 281,919

' Claims. (Cl. 94-44) The present invention relates to road buildingapparatus, and more particularly to an improved road base buildingapparatus.

Major economies have been effected in the construction of modernhighways by reason of the utilization of large, semi-automatic concretefinishing machines. As is Well known, these machines are adapted tospread, compact, and finish in one operation a slab of concrete as muchas 9 inches thick and 24 feet wide.

However, the road subbase or base has not heretofore been prepared tothe exacting specifications to which the finished slab is made, andconsiderable time and expense have been required to grind the finishedhighway or road surface to eliminate irregularities caused by unevennessin the subbase or base.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roadbase building apparatus which is adapted to perform a variety ofdifferent but related functions, including the preparation of the.subgrade for a road, the spreading and leveling of a rock base for aroad, and the spreading and leveling of cement-treated material for aroad, providing in all cases a road bed or road base which is uniform,accurate and smooth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus of the aforementioned character which is adapted to accomplishthe above-described functions quickly and inexpensively through theutilization of semiautomatic components under the control of oneoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus of the aforementioned character which is self-propelled andadpated to follow a pair of conventional windrowers which are suppliedby usual dump trucks, and adapted to split, spread, and level windrowslaid by the windrowers. An ancillary feature of the present apparatus isthe utilization of moving shovels, rakes, and screeds to work thematerial to a uniform consistency, with minimum segregation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus adapted to lay a cement-treated base on a road b ed smoothly,with minimum segregation, and to a very accurate grade. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus of the aforementioned character which has a comparativelygreat width, 27 feet in one embodiment, and a comparatively long wheelbase, 34 /2 feet in such embodiment, whereby there is eliminated theelfect of grade deviations that might otherwise be 'transferred to thefinished surface of the pavement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus which is adapted to spread and level a variety of base coursematerials, and which can also be utilized as a heavy-duty, highlyaccurate subgrader as well.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a road basebuilding apparatus which incorporates heavy steel members which aresecurely braced to provide a rugged, rigid frame to minimizeinaccuracies due ice to deflection. In this regard, it is a salientfeature of the invention that the hydraulic controls for the variouscomponents are elevated and centrally located within easy reach of theoperator so that the performance of the apparatus can be continuouslymonitored and controlled by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforementioned character in which the rakes, shovels, and screeds arecharacterized by a reciprocating action which extends the full width ofthe apparatus, while leaving clean-finished edges at the road base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road base buildingapparatus in which the windrow splitters or plows, the reciprocatingrakes, the spreading shovels,

and the reciprocating screeds are transversely movable to provide theoperator with a means for precisely controlling the spreading andleveling of material.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view' of the road base building FIG. 5 is adetail View taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3, and illustrating aportion of the drive means for the rear screed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, rear elevational view, taken along the line 66 ofFIG. 2, illustrating a portion of the means for adjusting the height ofthe reciprocating rakes;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, front elevational view, taken along' the line 88of FIG. 2, illustrating the means for adjusting the height of the rearscreed;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating thefront, left track drive unit;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the track drive unitof FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, side elevational view, taken along the line 1212of FIG. 2, illustrating a portion of the means for transversely movingthe forward or front spreading shovel;

FIG. 13 is a FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. '15 is an enlarged, side elevational view, taken along the line15-15 of FIG. 2, illustrating the means for adjusting the verticalheight of the V-plows or windrow splitters.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularlyFIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a road base rbuilding apparatus 10 accordingto the present invention is illustrated as it would appear whentraveling forwardly, in the direction of the arrow 12. The apparatus 10includes a rigid rectangular frame 14 which is supported by a pair. of

view taken along the line 13-13 of transversely spaced-apart fronttracks 16 and a pair of transversely spaced-apart rear tracks 18,whereby the apparatus is self-propelled, as will be seen.

Although the apparatus 10 is adapted to be utilized as a heavy-duty,accurate subgrader, thedescri-ption hereinafter made Will be directed toutilization of the apparatus 10 for spreading and leveling of basecourse material upon an already prepared subgrade. The base course for aconcrete highway is usually a rock base over which the slab of concreteis liad. However, it-should be noted that the present apparatus 10 isadapted to spread and level various types of base course materials, asWell as cement-treated material which itself constitutes the roadsurface, and the description hereinafter made is therefore merelyexemplary.

Since the accuracy of the grade of the rock base course to a greatextent controls the accuracy of the finished road, it is extremelyimportant to break up, spread, and level the rock base course withinrelatively close tolerances.

The rock base material is usually dumped into a pair of conventionalcalibrated windrowers (not shown) by a pair of dump trucks. Thewindrowers lay down two parallel windrows arranged coextensive with andupon the proposed road bed, and theapparatus 10 desegregates, spreads,and levels the two windrows to provide a finished rock base course forsupporting an overlying slab of concrete to form the road.

The forward extremity of the frame 14 carries a pair of transverselyspaced-apart windro-w splitters or V-plows 20 which split and laterallydistribute the two windrows of rock base material across the width ofthe apparatus 10. In a typical instance the material is spread to aloose depth of about 4 /2 inches across a lateral span of 27 feet.

On the frame 14 rearwardly of the V-plows 20 are a pair of reciprocatingrakes 22 and 24 which desegregate or work the rock base material to auniform consistency by reciprocating through the material in atransverse direction with a stroke of, for example, approximately 7inches.

Mounted on the frame -14 rearwardly of the reciprocating rakes 22 and 24isa chain-driven forward spreader paddle or shovel 26 which ordinarilymoves constantly across the width of the apparatus 10 to provide lateraldistribution of the rock material.

To the rear of the shovel 26 the frame 14 mounts a toothed, transverselyreciprocating forward or front screed 28 which effects leveling andsmoothing of the rock material which was laterally positioned by theshovel 26. A chain-driven second or rear spreader shovel 30 is mountedto the frame 14 behind the front screed 28 and normally movescontinuously back and forth across the width of the apparatus 10 toeffect a finer lateral distribution of the material leaving the frontscreed 28, picking up the material from the high or heavy spots anddelivering it to the low or lean spots.

On the frame 14 behind the rear shovel 30 is located a transverselyreciprocating finish or rear screed 32 characterized by a straight loweredge to impart an accurate, finished surface to the base course materialas the apparatus 10 proceeds beyond it.

As will be seen, each of the above-mentioned components is individuallyadjustable to perform its function in a manner tailored to theparticular job to be done.

The frame The frame .14 includes a pair of longitudinally extending sidemembers 34 and 36 integrally connected by front and rear cross pieces orbeams 38 and 40 as well as a plurality of intermediate transverse beams42. The members 34 and 36 and the beams 38, 40 and 42 may be securedtogether in any suitable fashion, as by welding or bolting together, butthe latter is preferred because it facilitates shipping andtransportation of the apparatus 10. Moreover, the beams 38, 40 and 42are preferably made in bolted-together sections to permit relativelyrapid disassemb-ly thereof for changing the apparatus 10 from one widthto another to accommodate the apparatus to construction of roads ofdifferent widths.

The frame 14 is also suitably reinforced by various bracing components,including a pair of side trusses 44, but such bracing components willnot be described in detail inasmuch as their particular constructiondoes notform a part of the present invention.

An internal combustion engine 46 is centrally located over the screeds28 and 32 upon a pair of the intermediate frame beams 42. As bestillustrated in FIG. 2, the engine 46 is coupled to a gear box 48 foraltering the input speed to the driven components of the apparatus 10,and the box 48 is in turn coupled to a usual and conventionaldifferential '50, FIG. 3, for driving the tracks 16 and 18. The engine46 is also coupled to a hydraulic pump 52 to supply fluid under pressurefor operation of the various hydraulic components of the apparatus 10,the pump 52 being conventional in construction with its outputcontrolled by conventional valving to actuate various hydrauliccylinders, as will be seen. Most of the details of structure of theengine 46, the gear box 48, the differential 50, the pump 52, and themeans interconnecting these units are not described herein for reasonsof brevity, because such details form no part of the present invention,and because such details will immediately suggest themselves to thoseskilled in this art.

The engine 46 is connected by a system of belts and chains to thecomponents driven thereby, as best viewed in FIG. 3, which system isconnected to a drive shaft 54 of the engine 46. The shaft 54 rotates agrooved sheave 56 which is connected to a grooved differential sheave 58and to a drive sheave 60 by separate pluralities of V-belts.

The sheave 58 drives the differential 50 through a chain sprocket 62connected to the differential 50 by a chain 64, the opposite sides ofthe diiferental 50 being keyed to a pair of shafts 6'6 and 68 which havetheir opposite ends keyed to a pair of chain sprockets 70 and 72,respectively. The sprockets 70 and 72 are rotatably supported by theside frame members 36 and 54, respectively, and drive pairs of endlesschains coupled to the tracks 16 and 18. These chains are constituted bya rearwardly extending endless chain 74 and a forwardly extendingendless chain 76 meshed with the sprocket 70, and a rearwardly extendingendless chain 78 and a forwardly extending endless chain 80 meshed withthe sprocket 72. The chains 76 and 80 are operatively coupled to thefront tracks 16 and the chains 74 and 78 to the rear tracks 18 where theapparatus 10 is propelled forwardly or rearwardly depending upon thedirection of rotation of the drive sprocket 62 of the differential 50.

A representative showing of the coupling of the endless drive chains 74,7:6, 78 and 8th is seen'in FIG. 3, wherein the chain 74 is shown meshedwith a track sprocket-82 connected by a universal joint linkage 84 to asprocket 86. The sprocket '86 is connected by an endless chain 88 to atrack sprocket 90 mounted on a shaft which carries an endless trackchain (not shown) for a rear track :18. The track chain meshes withsprockets carried by toothed wheels upon which the track threads 92 arecarried, as best viewed in 'FIGS. 10 and 11. Thus, the engine 46 isadapted to power the front and rear tracks 16 and 18 forwardly orrearwardly, depending upon operation of the gear box 48, to move theapparatus 10 over the proposed road bed.

The engine 46 is also adapted to effect reciprocatory transversemovement of the front and rear screeds 28 and 30 by coupling of thedrive sheave 60 to a shaft 94. The shaft 94 drives a chain sprocket 96connected by a chain 98 to another chain sprocket 100 which drives ashaft carrying a chain sprocket 102. This drives an endless chain 104connected to a screed sprocket 106, which rotates a pair of shafts 108and 110 carrying a pair of crank arms 112 and 114, respectively. Thecrank arms 112 and 114 are connected to a pair of transversely disposedscreed shafts 116 and 118, respectively, for transversely reciprocatingthe front and rear screeds 28 and 30.

The engine 46 is also adapted to operate the reciprocating rake 22through connection of the chain sprocket 96 to a grooved sheave'120which is connected by a plurality of Vbelts to a groove-d sheave 122.Rotation of the sheave 122 is transmitted by a shaft 124 to a chainsprocket 126, and the .rotation is then carried by an endless chain 128to a chain sprocket 130 which is mounted at approximately the midportionof a shaft 132. The opposite extremities of the shaft 132 are keyed to apair of chain sprockets 134 and 136 so that the sprockets 134 and 136are rotatable by the sprocket 130. Sprocket 130 is also effective torotate a chain sprocket 138 which is mounted upon the shaft 132outwardly of the chain sprocket 134, and is operative with the sprocket136 to power the shovels 26 and 30, respectively, as will be seen.

The chain sprocket 134 is connected by an endless chain 140 to a chainsprocket 142 which, through a shaft 144, rotates a crank throw .146, asbest viewed in FIG. 4. The crank throw 146 is pivotally mounted to atransversely extending rake shaft 148 connected to the reciprocatingrake 22 for reciprocating the same, as will be seen.

The front and rear shovels 26 and 30 are moved transversely by thesprockets 138 and 136 through a pair of endless chains 150 and 1 52which convert rotation of the sprockets into transverse movement of theshovels, as will be seen, the chains being held at the opposite sides ofthe frame 14 by training thereof upon a pair of idler sprockets 154 and156 rotatably mounted to the frame 14.

Each of the tracks 16 and 18 is attached to the frame 14 in such a waythat the track may be steered as well as vertically adjusted. Moreparticularly, each track, as best viewed in FIGS. and 11, is constitutedby a cyl inder 158 which is attached to the frame front beam 38 by ashort, U-shaped channel member 160 welded to the front beam 38. Acrossthe upper end of the cylinder 160 is welded a strap 162 having a centralopening for receiving a threaded shaft 164. A nut 166 is welded to thestrap 162 so that rotation of the shaft 164 serves to verticallyposition the shaft 164 relative to the cylinder 158.

The lower end of the shaft 164 is freely rotatable in a collar 168welded to a yoke 170 which rotatably mounts the sprocket 90 of thetrack. A cylinder 172 is welded at its lower end to the yoke 170 and isslidable at its upper end within the cylinder 158. Thus, rotation of theshaft 164 in one direction will raise the frame 14 relative to the track16, while rotation of the shaft 164 in the opposite direction permitsthe weight of the frame 14 to lower the frame 14 relative to the track16. To

prevent the cylinder 172 from sliding downwardly out of the cylinder 158when the frame 14 is raised, as bya crane during transportation or thelike of apparatus 10, a chain 174 is connected between the two cylinders158 and 172, as best illustrated in FIG. 11.

Each track is steered by a pair of steering arms 176 and 178 connectedat their forward extremities to the yoke 170, and diverging rearwardlyfor connection together and for pivotal connection to a transverselyextending steering rod 180 disposed between the steering arms 176 of theoppositely disposed tracks 16 or 18, as the case may be.

The steering rod 180 is moved in one direction or the other by adouble-acting hydraulic cylinder 182 suitably connected between thesteering rod 180 and the frame 14. As will be apparent, the cylinder 182is appropriately connected by suitable flexible conduits to thehydraulic pump 52, and is under the control of the operator by means ofsuitable valving (not shown).

V-plows Each of the pair of V-plows 20 located at the forward extremityof the apparatus 10 comprises a pair of elongated, rearwardly divergingplow plates 184 whose forward extremities are secured to a short,longitudinally extending plate 186. The rearward extremities of theplowplates 184 are welded together in divergent relationship by atransversely extending channel 188, and a transversely extending strapis welded adjacent the forward extremities of the blades 184 to providean integral, rigid structure.

As best viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, and 15, a pair of transverselyspaced-apart plow supports 192 are connected to each of the plowchannels 188 to support the plows 20 upon the most forwardly locatedintermediate beam 42. As best viewed in FIG. 15, each plow support192.includes a bracket 194 welded to the plow channel 188 and keyed tothe lower extremity of a vertically extending shank 196 which slidablypasses through vertically aligned openings provided in a support channel198 which encompasses the intermediate channel or beam 42.

The upper extremity of the shank 196 is slidably disposed through acylindrical housing 200 welded to the upper side of the support channel198. A nut 202 is mounted to a threaded upper end of the shank 196, andbears against the upper end of the housing 200 whereby rotation of thenut 202 in opposite directions raises and lowers the shank 196 relativeto the bracket support channel 198. With this arrangement, a means isprovided for relatively rapidly adjusting the height of the rearwardextremities of the plow blades 184 above the road surface, as by merelyrotating the nut 202 in the proper direction. Each plow support 192 issecured in position upon one of the intermediate beam-s 42 by a setscrew- 204 and a usual lock nut 206, as will be apparent.

An identical plow support 192 is located adjacent the forward extremityof each plow 20, and is mounted upon the front beam 38 with the lowerend of its shank welded to the plate 186. Accordingly, both the rearwardand forward extremities of the plows 20 may be accurately adjusted withrespect to the surface to be. Worked whereby an optimum distribution ofthe base course material is had.

The initial windrow splitting angle of each of the plows 20 ishydraulically adjustable so that the base course material is spread orlaterally distributed in the most advantageous manner. Moreparticularly, each plow 20 includes a splitter plate 208 pivotallyconnected to the forward end of the plate 186 and including an integraloperating arm 210 which is pivotally connected to the piston of adouble-acting hydraulic cylinder 212 pivotally secured to the transversestrap 190 as best viewed in FIG. 2. The cylinders 212 of the two plows20 are suitably connected to the hydraulic controls of apparatus 10 sothat the operator is able to precisely split the windrows as required bythe particular application at hand whereby complete flexibility isprovided in the splitting and lateral distribution of the windrows ofbase course material.

Reciprocating rakes The laterally distributed base course materialpassing from the V-plows 20 is next agitated and desegregated by thetransversely extending reciprocating rakes-22 and 24. As best viewed inFIGS. 1 through 4, 6, and 7,

the rakes 22 and 24 extend transversely in coextensive relationship, andare substantially identical so that a description of one will serve as adescription of the other as well. Thus, the rake 22 comprises atransverse support bar 214 extending substantially the whole width ofthe frame 14, and including a plurality of equally spacedapart openingswhich receive a corresponding plurality of vertically oriented,elongated elements or teeth 216 secured in position by bolts 218.

The support bar 214 is rigidly secured to the lower end of a pair oftransversely spaced-apart cylinders 220, one of which is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. The cylinders 220 are vertically slidable within largercylinders 222 which are welded to and form integral parts of a pair ofpivot assemblies 224. Each assembly 224 also includes a cylinder 226opposite the cylinder 222 for slidably accommodating the cylinder 220 ofthe other rake 24. The two cylinders 222 and 226- of each assembly 224are connected by a pair of upper and lower plates 228 to opposite sidesof an upper annular collar 230 and a lower annular collar 232 which arepinned to the upper and lower extremities of a cylinder 234.

The cylinder 234 is rotatable within a fixed, larger cylinder 236rigidly secured to an arcuate yoke 238 welded to the intermediate beam42. With this arrangement, the central cylinder 234 and the pair ofcylinders 220 pivot relative to the fixed yoke 238 and the cylinder 236,effecting a reciprocatory movement of the rake teeth 216 of both of therakes 22 and 24.

Pivoting of the pair of pivot assemblies 224 to reciprocate the rakes 22and 24 is produced by the rake shaft 148 which was previously mentionedin connection with the components illustrated in FIG. 3. The shaft 148is connected to the cylinder 222 by a ball joint connection 239 and isreciprocated by rotation of the crank throw 146 at approximately 75revolutions per minute, with a length of stroke of the shaft 148 ofapproximately seven inches. Of course, such speed and stroke is merelyexemplary of one arrangement which was found to work the'rock basecourse material to a uniform. consistency with minimum segregation.

The lowermost position of the teeth 216 of each of the rakes 22 and 24is adjusted by rotation of a pair of nuts 240 upon the threaded upperextremities of the cylinders 220, thereby adjusting the positions of thecylinders 220 relative to the cylinders 222 and 226 within which theyare vertically slidable.

The vertical positions of the teeth 216 are also vertically adjustableduring operation of the apparatus 10 by meansof flexible cables whichare connected to a hydraulic cylinder. More particularly, a flexiblecable 242 is secured to a pair of cables 244, only one of which isillustrated in FIG. 6, which are secured to the support bars 214 of therakes 22 and 24. The cable 242 is trained about a pulley 246 rotatablymounted to the intermediate beam 42, and extends transversely to asingleacting hydraulic cylinder 248, FIG. 2. A similar cable is alsoextended from the other extremity of the rakes 22 and 24 for connectionto the hydraulic cylinder 248 so,

that by operating suitable valves (not shown), the operator of theapparatus 10 is able to control the hydraulic Forward shovel As bestillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 through 14,

the forward shovel 26 is transversely movable forwardly of theintermediate beam 42 and across the width of the apparatus 10. Thestructure supporting the shovel 26 during this movement includes aplurality of transversely spaced apart brackets (not shown in detail)which are welded to the forward face of the beam 42 and support a pairof vertically spaced apart, horizontally extending angles 250 and 252which, as will be seen, constitute tracks for guiding the shovel 26 inits transverse travel.

The shovel 26 comprises a pair of angularly inclined blades 254 whichdiverge in a rearward direction and are secured at their midportions inspaced apart relationship by channel members 256 Welded to the lowerextremity of a hollow vertically extending shovel support element 258.The element 258 is vertically slidable within a similar hollow, butlarger support element 260* which is welded to a vertical mounting plate262.

A pair of spaced apart upper rollers 264 and a pair of spaced apartlower rollers 264 are rotatably carried by the plate 262, being securedto the back thereof by mounting bolts or the like (not shown), and rollupon the angles 250 and 252. The rollers 264 include annular end flangeswhich retain the rollers on the angles 250 and 252.

The shovel 26 is raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator or cylinder266 disposed Within the telescopable elements 258 and 260, the upperextremity of the cylinder 266 being secured to the upper extremity ofthe cylinder 260 by a transversely disposed pin 268, and the lower ex-vtremity of the cylinder 266 being secured tothe transverse channels 256by a pin 270. However, the openings in the various componentsaccommodating the pin 270 are oversize, and a compression spring 272 isdisposed between the channels 256 and a shoulder 274 of the cylinder 258to resiliently take up the relative movement occasioned by the loosefitting pin 270. The resilient mounting of the shovel 26 permits theshove-l blades 254 to orient themselves as required for coextensiveengagement with the road bed surface over whic hthe apparatus 10 ispassmg.

If it is desired to lower the shovel 26, hydraulic fluid is directedinto a hydraulic line 276 and into the cylinder 266, as by manipulationof suitable control valves (not shown) forcing the piston 278 thereof tomove downwardly. In similar fashion, the shovel 26 is moved upwardly byexhausting fluid through the line 276, the

natural forces on the shovel 26 during operation of the apparatus 10tending to push the shovel upwardly.

Thus, the shovel 26 is movable transversely as well as up and down,whereby the operator exercises close control of the lateral spreading ofbase course material coming from the reciprocatingrakes 22 and 24.Accordingly, if the operator wishes to deposit some of the material toone side of the apparatus 10, it is merely necessary to lower the shovel26 at the opposite side and gradually raise it as the shovel approachesthe side of the apparatus where more of the material is desired. Gtherdiscrepancies in material distribution are similarly adjusted, as willbe apparent.

The transverse movement of the shovel 26 is primarily effected throughthe operation of a continuous chain 280 which is rotatably mounted upona pair of sprockets (not shown) located at opposite sides of theapparatus 10, and rotatably secured to the forward face of theintermediate beam 42. A flanged guide wheel 282 is rotatably carried bythe chain 280, as best illustrated in FIG. 12, and is projectedforwardly by the chain within a vertical track 284 defined by a pair ofvertically arranged elements secured to the rear face of the mountingplate 262.

With this arrangement, as the chain 280 passes about its sprockets, theguide wheel 282 in engagement with the track 284 carries the shovel 26toward one side of the apparatus 10. When the chain 280 passes about itsend sprocket at that point, the guide wheel 282'will follow the chainand move upwardly or downwardly in the track 284, as the case may be,and thereafter carry the shovel 26 in the opposite direction across thewidth of the apparatus 10. In this manner, the shovel 26continuously'moves back and forth to distribute the base coursematerial.

Rear shovel The rear shovel 30, which is located between the front andrear screeds 28 and 32, is substantially identical in arrangement andoperation to the front shovel 26 just described except that the shovelblades thereof are somewhat smaller and are joined together at theirforward extremities in a V configuration. The rear shovel 30 provides anaccurate lateral distribution of base course material passing from thefront screed 28, and gives the operator a fine control of the grade ofthe base course material just before its final leveling by the rearscreed 32. The rear shovel 26 is indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 2,and is transversely movable along a track 286 mounted upon anintermediate beam 288 disposed between the frame side members 34 and 36,in a manner substantially identical to the transverse. track providedfor the front shovel 26 by the angles 250 and 2 52 upon the intermediatebeam 42.

Front and rear screeds The front screed 28 and the rear screed 32 aresubstantially identical in construction and operation except that thefront screed is reciprocated by the shaft 116 and the rear screed by theshaft 118, and also in that the screeds are differently positioned.Accordingly, a detailed de scription will be made of only the rearscreed 32, the

description being equally applicable to the front screed 28 unlessotherwise indicated.

The rear screed 32 includes an elongated horiozntal scraper element 290extending across the width of the apparatus and, as best vie-wed inFIGS. 8 and 9, is characterized by a straight lower edge. In contrast,the front screed 28 has an elongated scraper element which is toothed tomore easily handle the initial leveling of the base course material. Thestraight scraper element 290 is best adapted to effect the finalfinishing in that it provides a smooth surface.

The scraper element 290 is welded to the forwardlower edge ofanelongated screed box 292 whose walls are welded together to form ahollow, transversely extending box structure, as best viewed in FIG. 1.The box 292 is supported by an intermediate beam 294 carried -by theframe side members 34'and 36, a pair of shafts 296 being rigidly securedto the opposite extremities of the box 292 and extending upwardly into apair of cylindrical fittings 298 which aid in suspending the screed inposition while allowing reciprocation thereof.

More particularly, the upper extremity of each of the pair of shafts 296is rotatable in its fitting 298, passes through a suitable openingprovided in a plate 300 which is welded across the upper end thereof,and is threaded to receive a pair of wrench nuts 302. The nuts 302 areoperated to adjust the vertical position of the shaft 296 relative tothe cylindrical fitting 298, and lock the shaft and fitting in theadjusted positions thereof. By thus operating the two pairs of nuts 302,the vertical position of the opposite ends of the screed may beadjusted.

Each cylindrical fitting 298 is welded to a support arm 304 which iswelded to a vertically oriented shaft 306. The upper and lower ends ofthe shaft 306 are rotatably carried in annular upper and lower trunnions308 and 310 bolted to a box frame 312 which is welded to the upper sideof the intermediate beam 294. Thus, each cylindrical fitting 298 isintegral with a shaft 296, and is rotatable relative to the associatedcylindrical trunnion 308.

The rear screed 32 is transversely reciprocated by reciprocatorymovement of the shaft 118 which is connected to one extremity of thescreed box 292, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. More particularly, theshaft 118 is slidably disposed through an annular tube 314, is carriedby the screed 32, the tube 314 including an integral shaft portion 316rotatably carried Within a cylinder 318 welded to the upper side of thescreed box 292.

A pair of springs 320 are arranged upon the shaft 1 18 on opposite sidesof the tube 314, and are maintained in position by a pair of collars 322secured to the shaft 118. When the shaft 118 moves in one direction, oneof the springs 320 is compressed, followed by movement of thescreed 32in that direction. Conversely, when the shaft 118 is moved in theopposite direction, the other spring 320 is compressed, followed bymovement of the screed 32 in such opposite direction. Thus, the movementof the screed 32 in either direction is first cushioned by initialcompression of the springs 320, thereby reducing shock and smoothing thereversal of direction of the screed 32 during reciprocation of thescreed shaft 118.

In addition to the height adjustment provided by the nut wrenches 302,the screed 32 is vertically movable by means of a pair of hydrauliccylinders 324 secured to the box spring 312. The piston ends thereof aresecured to the lower wall of the screed box 292 by means of a pair ofchains 326 whose lengths are initially established such that the screed32 is in operative engagement with the base course material in itslowermost position and out of engagement with such material in itsuppermost position. Accordingly, operation of the cylinders 324 raisesand lowers the screed 32 between its operative and inoperative positionsas the apparatus 10 is propelled over the roadbed, and operation of onlyone of the cylinders 324 effects a tilting of the screed.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the apparatus '10is effective to accurately spread and level base course material for aroad, to also spread and level cement treated material, and to alsoactually prepare the subgrade itself. The apparatus is self propelled tofollow conventional windrowers, and split, spread and level the windrowsto provide a roadbed of accurate grade. The utilization of the pair oflarge, rugged V-plows 20 enables the apparatus to handle largequantities of material, splitting and laterally spreading the materialto an initial rough grade.

The pair of transversely reciprocating rakes deseg'regate the materialand break it into particles of substantially uniform size, providing auniform roadbed, and the continuously moving forward shovel effects aninitial transverse distribution of the material for initial leveling bythe forward screed. Thereafter, the continuously moving rearward shovelprovides a more precise lateral distribution of the material prior tofinal leveling by the rearward screed. In this regard, the transversereciprocation of the forward and rearward screeds greatly assists inproperly leveling the material, and the ability of the operator to raiseand lower either of the shovels at any time gives him a very precisecontrol over the lateral distribution 'of the material before it everreaches the screeds.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A road 'base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade;

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes .in said road base material;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, and actuating said means forpivoting said rakes and actuating said means for reciprocating saidscreed means whereby a strip of road base material of uniform height andconsistency may be continuously provided.

2. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade, a portion of said V-plow means beingpivot- 11 able on said frame to adjust the amounts of said road basematerial laterally distributed on opposite sides of said V-plow means;

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes in said road base material;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally 'distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, actuating said means for pivotingsaid rakes, pivoting said portion of said V-plow means, and actuatingsaid means for reciprocating said screed means whereby a strip of roadbase material of uniform height and consistency may be continuouslyprovided. v

3. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade;

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes in said road base material;

first shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

first screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of saidfirst shovel means;

means for transversely reciprocating said first screed means to levelsaid road base material;

second shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said first screed meansand transversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said first screed means;

second screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of saidsecond shovel means;

means for transversely reciprocating said second screed means to levelsaid road base material;

second shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said first screed meansand transversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said first screed means;

second screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of saidsecond shovel means;

means for transversely reciprocating said second screed means to levelsaid road base material distributed by said second shovel means; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said first and second shovel means, actuating saidmeans for pivoting said rakes, actuating said means for reciprocatingsaid first screed means, and actuating said means for reciprocating saidsecond screed means whereby a strip of road base material of uniformheight and consistency may be continuously provided.

4. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade;

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes in said road base material;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally dsitribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes, said shovel means being verticallymovable to adjust the depth of penetration of said road base material bysaid shovel means;

means including hydraulic cylinder means connected between said frameand said shovel means and operable to raise and lower said shovel means;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, and operating said means forpivoting said rakes and said means for reciprocating said screed meanswhereby a strip of road base material of uniform height and consistencymay be continuously provided.

5. A road base building apparatus comprising:

aframe;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade;

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes in said road base material, said toothed rakes beingvertically movable to adjust the depth of said teeth in said road basematerial;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

means including hydraulic cylinder means connected between said frameand said toothed rakes and operable to raise and lower said toothedrakes;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, and operating said means forpivoting said rakes and said means for reciprocating said screed meanswhereby a strip of road base material of uniform height and consistencymay be continuously provided.

6. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for later-ally means for transverselyreciprocating said screed means to level said road base material, saidscreed means being vertically movable to adjust the height of said loweredge;

means including hydraulic cylinder means connected between said frameand said screed means and operable 'to raise and lower said lower edgeof saidscreed means; and 7 drive means for simultaneously propellingsaid frame over said subgrade, transversely moving said shovel means,and operating said means for pivoting said rakes and said means forreciprocating said screed means whereby a strip of road base material ofuniform height and consistency may be continuously :provided.

7. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a substantially rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart sidemembers;

a pair of V-plow means mounted to said frame in adjacent, transverselyspaced apart relationship for laterally distributing road base materialon a highway subgrade, each of said -V-plow means pivotally mounting avertically oriented forward plate;

means including hydraulic cylinder means for pivoting said plate of eachof said V-plow means to thereby adjust the lateral distribution of saidroad base material;

a pair of elongated, substantially coextensive toothed rakes mounted onsaid frame rearwardly of said pair of V-plow means and pivotable onopposite sides of common pivot points for transverse reciprocation inopposite directions relative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teeththereof in opposite directions in said road base material;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, and operating said means forpivoting said rakes and said means for reciprocating said screed meanswhereby a strip of road base material of uniform height and consistencymay be continuously provided.

8. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a substantially rectangular frame having a pair of spaced apart sidemembers;

a pair of V-p-low means mounted to said frame in adjacent, transverselyspaced apart relationship for laterally distributing road base materialon a highway subgrade, each of said V-plow means pivotally mounting avertically oriented forward plate;

means including hydraulic cylinder means for pivoting said plate of eachof said V-plow means to thereby adjust the lateral distribution of saidroad base material;

a pair of elongated, substantially coextensive toothed rakes mounted onsaid frame rearwardly of said pair of V-plow means and pivotable onopposite sides of common pivot points for transverse reciprocation inopposite directions relative-to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teeththereof in opposite directions in-said road base material;

a pair of shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakesand transversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial,

one of said pair of shovel means being located immediately rearwardly ofsaid toothed rakes;

a pair of screed means pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly andrearwardly, respectively of the rearmost one of said pair of shovelmeans;

a pair of means for transversely reciprocating said pair of screedmeans, respectively, to level said road base material; and

drive means for simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, operating said means for pivotingsaid rakes, and operating said pair of means for reciprocating said pairof screed means whereby a strip of road base material of uniform heightand consistency may be continuously provided.

9. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a substantially rectangular frame having a pairof spaced apart sidemembers;

a pair of V-plow means mounted to said frame in adjacent, transverselyspaced apart relationship for lateral-1y distributing road base materialon a highway subgrade, each of said V-plow means pivotally mounting avertically oriented forward plate;

means including hydraulic cylinder means for pivoting said plate of eachof said V-plow means to thereby adjust the lateral distribution of saidroad base material;

a pair of elongated, substantially coextensive toothed rakes mounted onsaid frame rearwardly of said pair of V-plow means and pivotable onopposite sides of common pivot points for transverse recip rocation inopposite directions relative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teeththereof in opposite directions in said road base material;

a pair of shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakesand transversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial, one of said pair of shovel means being located immediatelyrearwardly of said toothed rakes;

a pair of screed means pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly andrearwarly, respectively of the rearmost one of said pair of shovelmeans;

a pair of means for transversely reciprocating said pair of screedmeans, respectively, to level said road base material, the lower edge ofsaid rearmost screed means being straight and the lower edge of theother of said pair of screed means being toothed; and

drive means simultaneously propelling said frame over said subgrade,transversely moving said shovel means, operating said means for pivotingsaid rakes, and operating said pair of means for reciprocating said pairof screed means whereby a strip of road base material of uniform heightand consistency may' be continuously provided.

10. A road base building apparatus comprising:

a frame;

V-plow means mounted to said frame for laterally distributing road basematerial on a highway subgrade; v

a pair of toothed rakes pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly ofsaid V-plow means for transverse reciprocation in opposite directionsrelative to each other;

means for pivoting said rakes for transversely reciprocating the teethof said rakes in said road base material;

shovel means on said frame rearwardly of said toothed rakes andtransversely movable on said frame to laterally distribute road basematerial leaving said toothed rakes;

screed means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovelmeans;

means for transversely reciprocating said screed means to level saidroad base material;

a plurality of tractor means located adjacent the sides of said frameand operative to propel said frame over said subgrade; and

means for operating said tractor means, for transversely moving saidshovel means, and for actuating said means for pivoting said rakes andactuating said mieans for reciprocating said screed means whereby astrip of road base material of uniform height and consistency may becontinuously provided.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Fitzgerald 94-45Humphries 9444 Noble 9444 Heltzel 94-44 Heltzel 9444 Faber 9444 Millikin94-46 Apel 9445 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

1. A ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A FRAME; V-PLOW MEANSMOUNTED TO SAID FRAME FOR LATERALLY DISTRIBUTING ROAD BASE MATERIAL ON AHIGHWAY SUBGRADE; A PAIR OF TOOTHED RAKES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAIDFRAME REARWARDLY OF SAID V-PLOW MEANS FOR TRANSVERSE RECIPROCATION INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAIDRAKES FOR TRANSVERSELY RECIPROCATING THE TEETH OF SAID RAKE IN SAID ROADBASE MATERIAL; SHOVEL MEANS ON SAID FRAME REARWARDLY OF SAID TOOTHEDRAKES AND TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE ON SAID FRAME TO LATERALLY DISTRIBUTEROAD BASE MATERIAL LEAVING SAID TOOTHED RAKES; SCREED MEANS PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON SAID FRAME REARWARDLY OF SAID SHOVEL MEANS; MEANS FORTRANSVERSELY RECIPROCATING SAID SCREED MEANS TO LEVEL SAID ROAD BASEMATERIAL; AND DRIVE MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PROPELLING SAID FRAME OVERSAID SUBGRADE, TRANSVERSELY MOVING SAID SHOVEL MEANS, AND ACTUATING SAIDMEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID RAKES AND ACTUATING SAID MEANS FOR RECIPROCATINGSAID SCREED MEANS WHEREBY A STRIP OF ROAD BASE MATERIAL OF UNIFORMHEIGHT AND CONSISTENCY MAY BE CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDED.